Selective barrier for a submersible pump

ABSTRACT

A selective barrier for a submersible pump includes a frame, and a membrane wrapped around the frame and configured to enclose the submersible pump. The selective barrier is sized to be spaced apart from the submersible pump a pre-defined distance in order to define a contiguous fluid passageway between the selective barrier and a suction port of the submersible pump. In addition, the membrane includes a mesh having a plurality of passageways formed therein to allow fluid to pass through. The frame is cylindrical in shape and the membrane wrapped around the frame is configured to allow larger sized particles to pass than through a strainer over the suction port.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of submersible pumps, and, more particularly, to a selective barrier for a submersible pump.

BACKGROUND

Submersible pumps typically have a suction port located near the bottom of the pump. The submersible pumps are often placed in sump pits filed with liquid and other debris. As the pump operates, a suction force is generated in order for liquid to be drawn into the pump and forced out through an outlet port. The outlet port may be coupled to a pipe or hose.

A drawback of the current submersible pumps is that often times debris enters the pump through the suction port and causes the pump to malfunction. Accordingly, a strainer is often used over the suction port in order to prevent debris from entering the pump. However, once enough debris is gathered on the strainer, the flow into the suction port is effectively blocked causing the pump to lose its prime and no longer function as a pump. In addition, the pump may run dry which causes premature failure of the pump and more frequent maintenance.

It is desirable, therefore, to provide a submersible pump that prevents debris from entering the suction port while at the same time is not subject to extensive clogging that prevents the flow of liquid into the pump.

SUMMARY

In a particular embodiment, a selective barrier for a submersible pump is disclosed. The selective barrier includes a frame, and a membrane wrapped around the frame and configured to enclose the submersible pump. The selective barrier is sized to be spaced apart from the submersible pump a pre-defined distance in order to define a contiguous fluid passageway between the selective barrier and the suction port of the submersible pump. The membrane comprises mesh having a plurality of passageways formed therein to allow fluid to pass through. The pre-defined distance may be at least one or two inches, for example. The submersible pump may have a strainer over the suction port so that the membrane is configured to allow larger sized particles to pass than through the strainer over the suction port. In a particular aspect, the frame is cylindrical in shape. The membrane may be plastic or metal, for example.

In another aspect, a submersible pump assembly includes an electric motor and a submersible pump having a suction port at a bottom end, where the submersible pump is coupled to the electric motor. A selective barrier is secured around the electric motor and the submersible pump. The selective barrier is spaced apart from the electric motor and the submersible pump a pre-defined distance to define a contiguous fluid passageway between the selective barrier and the suction port of the submersible pump. The selective barrier may include a frame and a membrane wrapped around the frame and enclosing the electric motor and the submersible pump. The membrane may include a mesh having a plurality of passageways formed therein to allow fluid to pass through.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a selective barrier for a submersible pump in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded cutaway view of the selective barrier of FIG. 1 so that the submersible pump is visible;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the selective barrier in an assembled state and enclosing the submersible pump;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the selective barrier taken in the direction of line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is the selective barrier for the submersible pump placed within a sump.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic perspective view of a selective barrier for a submersible pump is shown and generally designated 100. The selective barrier 100 includes a rigid upper frame 102 having a membrane 105 a that is wrapped around the upper frame 102. The selective barrier 100 also includes a complementary rigid lower frame 104 that has a similar membrane 105 b that is wrapped around the lower frame 104. The membrane 105 a, 105 b may be self-supporting. Accordingly, when the upper frame 102 and lower frame 104 are secured together using bolts 106 or other fasteners known in the art, the submersible pump is enclosed preventing any debris from reaching its suction port 122 as shown in FIG. 2. In a particular aspect, the selective barrier 100 comprises a cylindrical shape although the selective barrier 100 may comprise other shapes as well as can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. The membrane 105 a, 105 b may be plastic or metal, for example.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the selective barrier 100 is sized to be spaced apart from the submersible pump 120 a pre-defined distance in order to define a contiguous fluid passageway between the selective barrier 100 and the suction port 122 of the submersible pump 120. The submersible pump 120 may include an electric motor 125 that is used to pump the liquid from the suction port 122 to the discharge port 127 and out a discharge pipe 124.

The membrane 105 a, 105 b may comprise mesh having a plurality of passageways formed therein to allow fluid to pass through. The pre-defined distance may be at least one or two inches, for example, to allow sufficient space for liquid to enter through the membrane 105 a and travel down alongside the submersible pump 120 to the suction port 122 to maintain a sufficient flow volume for the characteristics of the submersible pump 120 to avoid cavitation. The submersible pump 120 may have a strainer 126 over the suction port 122. Accordingly, the membrane 105 a, 105 b is configured to prevent larger sized particles from entering the selective barrier 100 and the strainer 126 is configured to prevent smaller sized particles that are small enough to pass through the membrane 105 a, 105 b but are too large to pass through the submersible pump 120 safely. In another aspect, the membrane 105 a, 105 b may be configured to prevent any particle too large for the submersible pump 120 to be blocked from entering the selective barrier 100 making the strainer 126 unnecessary.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a sealing ring 107 is secured around an edge of the upper frame 102 and the top cover 108 to enclose the submersible pump 120. The sealing ring 107 includes holes for receiving shanks of the bolts 106. As those of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate, other means to secure the upper frame 102 and the top cover 108 together are within the teachings herein.

The top cover 108 of the upper frame 102 is provided with a central aperture 110 defined therein for a discharge pipe 124 to pass through the selective barrier 100, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The discharge pipe 124 is coupled to the submersible pump 120 and may extend above a water level. The central aperture 110 may be defined by raised sidewalls that provide a water tight seal around the discharge pipe 124 in order to prevent debris from entering the selective barrier 100.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the selective barrier 100 is shown placed in a sump 135 under water 130. The water 130 contains debris 136 that may be too large for the submersible pump 120 to safely pass without damaging or clogging the submersible pump 120. Accordingly, as the submersible pump 120 begins to operate, the liquid passes through the selective barrier 100 allowing only a selected size of particle to pass. The discharge pipe 124 is coupled to a discharge port 127 of the submersible pump 120 to order to remove the liquid 130 from the sump 135.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A selective barrier for a submersible pump having a suction port at a first end and a discharge port at a second end, the selective barrier comprising: a frame having a top end and an opposing bottom end, and the top end having a central aperture therein, wherein the suction port of the pump is configured to be suspended inside the frame and proximate the bottom end of the frame; the discharge port of the pump is configured to be proximate the top end of the frame so that a discharge pipe passing through the central aperture can be coupled to the discharge port of the pump positioned inside the frame; and a membrane wrapped around the frame and configured to enclose the submersible pump; wherein the selective barrier is sized to completely enclose the submersible pump and be spaced apart from the submersible pump a pre-defined distance in order to define a contiguous fluid passageway between the selective barrier and the suction port of the submersible pump that is suspended inside the selective barrier.
 2. The selective barrier of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises mesh having a plurality of passageways formed therein to allow fluid to pass through.
 3. The selective barrier of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined distance is at least one inch.
 4. The selective barrier of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined distance is at least two inches.
 5. The selective barrier of claim 2, wherein the submersible pump having a strainer over the suction port.
 6. The selective barrier of claim 5, wherein the membrane is configured to allow larger sized particles to pass than through the strainer over the suction port.
 7. The selective barrier of claim 6, wherein the frame is cylindrical in shape.
 8. The selective barrier of claim 6, wherein the membrane comprises plastic.
 9. The selective barrier of claim 6, wherein the membrane comprises metal.
 10. A submersible pump assembly comprising: an electric motor; a submersible pump having a suction port at a first end and a discharge port at a second end, wherein the submersible pump is coupled to the electric motor; a selective barrier completely enclosed around the electric motor and the submersible pump, the selective barrier comprising, a frame having a top end and an opposing bottom end, and the top end having a central aperture therein, wherein the suction port of the pump is configured to be suspended inside the frame and proximate the bottom end of the frame; the discharge port of the pump is configured to be proximate the top end of the frame so that a discharge pipe passing through the central aperture can be coupled to the discharge port of the pump positioned inside the frame; and a membrane wrapped around the frame and configured to enclose the submersible pump; and wherein the selective barrier is spaced apart from the electric motor and the submersible pump a pre-defined distance to define a contiguous fluid passageway between the selective barrier and the suction port of the submersible pump.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The submersible pump assembly of claim 10, wherein the membrane comprises a mesh having a plurality of passageways formed therein to allow fluid to pass through.
 13. The submersible pump assembly of claim 10, wherein the pre-defined distance is at least one inch.
 14. The submersible pump assembly of claim 10, wherein the pre-defined distance is at least two inches.
 15. The submersible pump assembly of claim 10, wherein the submersible pump having a strainer over the suction port.
 16. The submersible pump assembly of claim 15, wherein the membrane is configured to allow larger sized particles to pass than through the strainer over the suction port.
 17. The submersible pump assembly of claim 10, wherein the frame is cylindrical in shape.
 18. The submersible pump assembly of claim 10, wherein the membrane comprises plastic.
 19. The submersible pump assembly of claim 10, wherein the membrane comprises metal.
 20. A submersible pump assembly comprising: an electric motor; a submersible pump having a suction port at a first end and a discharge port at a second end, wherein the submersible pump is coupled to the electric motor; a strainer secured over the suction port of the submersible pump; a cylindrical frame having a top end and an opposing bottom end, wherein the suction port of the pump is configured to be suspended inside the frame and proximate the bottom end of the frame, the frame is secured around the electric motor and the submersible pump; a mesh wrapped around the cylindrical frame completely encloses the electric motor and the submersible pump; wherein the mesh is spaced apart from the electric motor and the submersible pump a pre-defined distance to define a contiguous fluid passageway between the mesh and the suction port of the submersible pump. 